(​Julia Arija)

The last URJCmun2019 day is here and that means it is time for UNDP committee to vote for a final resolution. Yesterday’s session finished with both resolutions presented and opened to questions, leaving the most important moment to today’s morning session.

After two amendments proposed by Senegal, the UK and French resolution was modified. At this point, it seemed that both blocks were cooperating together in order to reach an agreement that suited every country’s necessities. The debate was now closed by absolute majority and the delegates proceeded to start voting the resolutions. The first resolution voted was the one proposed by Senegal and Venezuela. As known, there must be absolute majority for a resolution to be passed; and if the first resolution is passed, there is no need to vote for the second resolution. Nevertheless, the first resolution failed: 12 votes in favour, 3 against votes and 6 abstentions.

As the first resolution had failed, it was time to vote for the second resolution, sponsored by France, Hungary, Japan and UK. Not expecting it, this resolution also failed: 12 votes in favour, 6 against and 3 abstained.

To conclude four URJCmun2019 intensive days at UNDP committee, for the Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030 delegates have not accomplished a solution to the issue. Although all countries started cooperating together and tried to write down a common resolution. As the days kept going, this utopia was getting harder to reach. Each country upheld to their own needs and was not willing to listen to suggestions. The difference increased between the ‘developed countries’ and the ‘developing countries’; or the ‘rich countries’ and the ‘poor countries’. As a consequence, this lead to the organization of two blocks that have not achieved to carry out the proposals they had made in order to eradicate world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms, and lead to a sustainable world.

The delegation of Nepal working hard. (Julia Arija)

Third day in UNDP feels like the conference is coming to its end and it is time to reach an agreement for Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030 in order to write down a final resolution.

Morning session was dedicated to debate if there is a real difference between the United Nations member countries. Powerful countries (Australia, UK, Mexico, France) stated that there is no discrimination to developing countries. In fact, they declared this difference does not exist. Nevertheless, countries such as Thailand and Venezuela clearly confirmed the discrepancy. Senegal even added that this is not an issue about developed and less developed countries but about rich and poor countries.

​In the afternoon the blocks were particularly outlined. On one side Japan, Hungary, Mexico, France, UK, Egypt, Germany, Israel, Australia, Peru and USA presented their common ideas. These countries are so called the developed countries and their working paper highlights are to incentivize agriculturally based innovation to ensure fair trade market, to improve rural areas technology, utilize food waste to create compost and to promote green economy, among others. In other words, these countries aim to lead to a sustainable world, and end world hunger and eradicate and raise awareness on malnutrition in all its forms. On the other side, Venezuela and Senegal leaded the opposite block. Redistribution of land, upgrade of trade and communications in rural areas, better women’s education, renovation of traditional farming methods and creation of renewable energy farms in the countryside are the main points of this block’s resolution.

Discrepancy has been brought as developed countries claimed that less developed countries lack of technology so they will not make it possible to accomplish their working paper proposal. The fear less developed countries feel is that richer countries will use them in order to get benefit of them. As a result, France, which is willing to take the lead, has stated that rich countries are ‘there’ to help the other block countries, and not to colonize them, as South Africa had previously mentioned. Also USA, which continued denying the existence of climate change, said that Venezuelan block does not have enough resources. “Is USA delegation saying China is not powerful?” Venezuelan delegate replied.

Countries are confronted and they must reach an agreement to answer Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030. Although their working paper has similar general ideas; until now, absolute agreement between all of them seems tough since each block defends their specific proposal points and is not willing to modificate them.

UNDP committee in the second day of URJCmun 2019 (Julia Arija).

The second day at UNDP has started with a debate on the Zero Hunger challenge for 2030. The morning sessions were smooth. General ideas have been settled down. Food waste is still a main concern for the United Nations, although there has been a disagreement about its importance. After all, countries have reached a consensus: in order to reduce food waste they must cooperate and get involved in the problem. However, developed countries and less developed countries strategies differ from each other. The first ones focus their attention in making taxes stricter and, for them, it is particularly important to reduce consumption and production. Meanwhile, less developed countries think the base of the problem is the distribution of land. It will only be overcome with a redistribution of land; as the food produced is actually enough to feed the entire world, but the distribution is not fair.

Just about to finish the morning session, breaking news interrupted Senegal’s speech. Press announced that an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the Ritcher Scale had hit the North of Venezuela on Wednesday. The consequences affected not only to Venezuela but also to the rest of countries given that Venezuela is the main worldwide distributor of oil. Moreover, there are more than 200 deaths and the country sources have been completely destroyed. Venezuela is in a critical situation, and wants and needs an urgent solution. European countries such as France and Germany doubted about the request of funds Venezuela had asked for. France asked if the funds would be given to its actually destination as Venezuela’s government is corrupted. Germany stated that Venezuela is not the centre of the world and every country should keep in mind to end up hunger in the entire world. Finally, a moment of silent was dedicated to the earthquake victims and every country voted the recommendations to the crisis. All countries said yes unless Germany. The recommendations were also heard by Security Council and they were approved; nevertheless, USA was abstained declaring that Venezuela’s crisis is not an issue for them.

Coming back to the Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030, in the afternoon two different blocks have been outlined. On one hand we have the developed countries group, headed by France and UK. Australia, Hungary, Mexico, Japan, Saudi Arabia and China, among others, are working with them. Their main ideas for the resolution are to invest in new technology but respecting traditional agriculture methods; the only use of renewable energy; to find new ways of producing food, for example from insects; to promote consumption and production of 100% reusable, recyclable and compostable containers and to face obesity. On the other hand, the opposite block is leaded by Senegal and Venezuela. This last country aims less developed countries to cooperate given that hunger is a more crucial issue in those countries. South Africa, Nepal, Cyprus, etc., take part in this block. This block is willing to give more attention to woman, end up with child hunger and redistribute land.

​There may be differences between the necessities of each block, but all countries agree on promoting green and circular economy to achieve the Zero Hunger Challenge for 2030 and lead to a sustainable world.

The delegate in his right to speak (Julia Arija).

The first day of URJCmun2019 is synonym of welcome and meeting the other delegates. In United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), every delegate got the chance to introduce theirselves and the country they represent to the rest of the committee at the morning conference.

After lunch, the session began and the first topic was brought into debate. The spotlight was on the Zero Challenge Hunger for 2030. Every country showed their necessities and their main concerns about the issue. However, there was one crucial matter which all countries agreed on: world hunger will be eradicated when the Governments from the different countries collaborate together. Moreover, it is indeed needed to make global population aware of the problem.

South Africa stated that a substantial base of hunger as a problem is the agriculture sector. As a result, Peru requested a motion to have a moderated caucus which topic was ‘Hunger in rural areas’. It was successfully accepted by the committee. While Mexico presented an internal solution (Hunger Project), Israel put forward a Cooperation Programme between Governments to reach a common solution which benefits all the countries involved. France opted to propose a solution consisting of supermarkets donating food that is not available to be sold to charities; and it would be ruled by law. Furthermore, South Africa and Saudi Arabia mentioned that there are no solutions for agriculture. So, they lead the way to increase the life standard of the primary sector in order to make a better life style and to get them better work opportunities.​In a Senegal’s intervention, the session changed it course. Senegal clearly stated that there are essential differences between developed countries and less developed countries; although Senegal had reduced hunger by 56%. While in non developed countries the public eye is in hunger, in developed countries the spotlight is in obesity and overweight. Senegal took the lead and requested a motion to have a moderated caucus which topic was ‘Ways to fight obesity’. The ideas were widely: Australia mentioned an International Forum (Governments with common policies to face the problem and overcome it) and Hungary opted for making agriculture more competitive. Finally, Mexico concluded that it is highly vital to raise awareness of obesity as a crucial and significant health issue.Eventually, a non moderated caucus was requested and approved. It helped delegates to establish agreements and links with countries that share their ideas and suggestions. Global ideas of the non moderated caucus will be presented at tomorrow session.